“Jowl an’ me,” Tumm resumed, “fished the Holy Terror Tickles o’ the Labrador in the _Got It_ nex’ season. He was a wonderful kind man, Jowl was—so pious, an’ soft t’ speak, an’ honest, an’ willin’ for his labor. At midsummer I got a bad hand, along of a cut with the splittin’-knife, an’ nothin’ would do Jowl but he’d lance it, an’ wash it, an’ bind it, like a woman, an’ do so much o’ my labor as he was able for, like a man. I fair got t’ _like_ that lad o’ his—though ’twas but a young feller t’ home, at the time—for Jowl was forever talkin’ o’ Toby this an’ Toby that—not boastful gabble, but just tender an’ nice t’ hear. An’ a fine lad, by all accounts: a dutiful lad, brave an’ strong, if given overmuch t’ yieldin’ the road t’ save trouble, as Jowl said. I ’lowed, one night, when the _Got It_ was bound home, with all the load the salt would give her, that I’d sort o’ like t’ know the lad that Jowl had. “‘Why don’t you fetch un down the Labrador?’ says I. “‘His schoolin’,’ says Jowl. “‘Oh!’ says I. “‘Ay,’ says he; ‘his mother’s wonderful particular about the schoolin’.’ “‘Anyhow,’ says I, ‘the schoolin’ won’t go on for all time.’ “‘No,’ says Jowl, ‘it won’t. An’ I’m ’lowin’ t’ harden Toby up a bit nex’ spring.’ “‘T’ the ice?’ says I. “‘Ay,’ says he; ‘if I can overcome his mother.’ “‘’Tis a rough way t’ break a lad,’ says I. “‘So much the better,’ says he. ‘It don’t take so long. Nothin’ like a sealin’ v’y’ge,’ says he, ‘t’ harden a lad. An’ if you comes along, Tumm,’ says he, ‘why, I won’t complain. I’m ’lowin’ t’ ship with Skipper Tommy Jump o’ the _Second t’ None_. She’s a tight schooner, o’ the Tiddle build, an’ I ’low Tommy Jump will get a load o’ fat, whatever comes of it. You better join, Tumm,’ says he, ‘an’ we’ll all be t’gether. I’m wantin’ you t’ get acquainted with Toby, an’ lend a hand with his education, which you can do t’ the queen’s taste, bein’ near of his age.’ “‘I’ll do it, Jowl,’ says I. “An’ I done it; an’ afore we was through, I wisht I hadn’t.” Tumm paused. “An’ I done it—nex’ March—shipped along o’ Tommy Jump o’ the _Second t’ None_, with Jowl an’ his lad aboard,” he proceeded. “‘You overcame the wife,’ says I, ‘didn’t you?’ “‘’Twas a tough job,’ says he. ‘She ’lowed the boy might come t’ harm, an’ wouldn’t give un up; but me an’ Toby pulled t’gether, an’ managed her, the day afore sailin’. She cried a wonderful lot; but, Lord! that’s only the way o’ women.’ “A likely lad o’ sixteen, this Toby—blue-eyed an’ fair, with curly hair an’ a face full o’ blushes. Polite as a girl, which is much too polite for safety at the ice. He’d make way for them that blustered; but he done it with such an air that we wasn’t no more’n off the Goggles afore the whole crew was all makin’ way for he. So I ’lowed he’d _do_—that he’d be took care of, just for love. But Jowl wasn’t o’ my mind. “‘No,’ says he; ‘the lad’s too soft. He’ve got t’ be hardened.’ “‘Maybe,’ says I.